Protests rock Kashmir over Ramban killings, curfew in Valley

Ramban in Jammu division remained tense and under curfew on Friday, a day after four persons were killed in alleged firing by the Border Security Force (BSF) the day before.

The killings in the Gool area of Ramban district, around 200 km from Jammu city, also cast a shadow over the Amarnath Yatra, which was suspended amid the threat of protests.

Tension also gripped Srinagar and other major towns in south and north Kashmir, where curfew was clamped early in the morning to prevent protests over the death of civilians who were protesting alleged high-handedness of BSF personnel.

Religious groups and separatists had called for protests across the valley after Friday prayers.

A heavy contingent of the police and the Central Reserve Police Force erected barricades across Srinagar in a pre-dawn operation. Spools of concertina wires were unrolled in parts of the old city to restrict the movement of vehicles.

There were reports of security forces chasing away people in sensitive parts of the old city in Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal and Saraf Kadal areas.

The BSF has dismissed the allegation that it opened indiscriminate fire, saying a mob had attacked its camp, indulged in firing and tried to storm their storehouse of arms and ammunition around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has ordered an inquiry into the firing and assured that "any use of excessive force or irresponsible action shall be dealt with strictly".

Chief minister Omar Abdullah has termed the killings "unacceptable" and also ordered a magisterial enquiry to determine the exact sequence of events.